The first Mauritius Lychee Tree was discovered on the island of Mauritius off the coast of Madagascar near Africa, which is where this gourmet tropical fruit gets its name. It has become a favorite for growing at home in edible landscapes ever since. The fruit is a bit smaller than some other Lychee cultivars, but the flavor is a perfect balance of sweet and tangy. The juicy white pulp is prized by both professional chefs and home fruit growers alike.
Mauritius Lychee Trees are evergreen tropical trees and they do best when grown in the ground in USDA Zones 9 to 11. Mauritius Lychee Trees can also be grown in pots in Zones 4 to 11, and brought indoors in the coldest months. Mauritius Lychee Trees can start producing fruit within two years in the ground in ideal locations with proper care and water. The trees are slow but steady growers, and they make beautiful shade trees. The many clusters of bright red, succulent, juicy Lychee Fruits in late spring and summer make a decorative and delicious addition to these stunning tropical fruit trees.
Mauritius Lychee Trees are self-pollinating so one tree can grow and ripen fruit with ease. Mauritius Lychee Trees will reach heights of between 20 to 40 feet, with widths of between 15 to 25 feet. They can also be kept smaller with annual trimming. Plant in-ground Mauritius Lychee Trees in courtyards or to the south of buildings or walls where they can be protected from harsh winter winds. Harvest all remaining fruit at the end of the growing year and the tree will be ready to produce another big crop the following summer.
Mauritius Lychee Trees are ideal for growing in pots if you have limited yard space, or are in a cold area. Grow potted Mauritius Lychee Trees outdoors in full sun for the spring through early fall months. Bring them indoors for the winter and place them in a sunny, south-facing window.
Relocate your potted Mauritius Lychee Trees outdoors to a sunny patio or deck in spring for best results. Expect some leaves to fall when relocating potted trees, but don’t worry. New leaves will quickly grow to replace fallen ones and the trees will be fine.
Mauritius Lychee Fruit & Harvesting
Mauritius Lychee Fruits grow dense clusters of small yellow-white blooms on the ends of the branches. The fruits are initially green, then pale yellow, then finally bumpy and red when ripe. Mauritius Lychee Trees produce about 30 fruits per bloom cluster, so a mature tree can make several hundred Lychee Fruits each season. Pick Mauritius Lychee fruits with hand trimmers. Cut the small branch ends above the clusters of fruit and remove the bunches of fruit to be hand-picked from the stems. Ripe Mauritius Lychees can be easily peeled by gently squeezing the red fruit until the thick skin cracks open. Once the skin splits, simply pull away the leathery shell to reveal the white, sweet, translucent pulp inside. Eat the juicy pulp and discard the shiny, black seed.
Each Mauritius Lychee has one seed that will easily release from the sweet white pulp. The seeds should never be eaten since they can contain irritating compounds. But the seeds are easy to remove and Lychee Fruit is a delicacy that is enjoyed around the world. Their succulent, juicy texture is also firm, and this makes them ideal for canning. In fact, canned and preserved Lychees have a very similar taste and texture to fresh Lychees, which has made them very popular among gourmet chefs and culinary enthusiasts over the years.
Advice
Mature Mauritius Lychee Trees produce large harvests of these incredible tropical fruits. One of the best ways to eat Lychees is fresh out of hand, right off the tree. Heavy crops can be canned, or used in desserts, tropical drinks, and fruit salads. Mauritius Lychees can be refrigerated fresh for up to a week, or frozen unpeeled and whole. Freezing the fruits in this way is convenient, and they only need to be thawed and peeled as normal, and the seeds removed, to then be used in smoothies and sweet treats.
Mauritius Lychee Trees grow well in many soil types. They do need good drainage and benefit from consistent access to water. A drip irrigation system that keeps the ground moist between rainfall is a great way to be sure your Mauritius Lychee Tree gets enough water and grows to its full potential. Add 3 to 6-inches of shredded tree bark mulch at the tree base to prevent weeds. Fertilize with the same fertilizer you would use for a mango or citrus tree and the Lychee Tree will perform for you season after season.
FAQs
How long will it take a Mauritius Lychee Tree to produce Lychees?
Lychee Trees are somewhat slow growers, but they are steady and reliable in good conditions. A newly planted Mauritius Lychee Tree will normally start to produce fruit within two or three years.
Are Lychee Trees cold sensitive?
The ideal location to grow a Mauritius Lychee Tree outdoors is in USDA Zones 9 to 11. But in Zones 4 to 11 you can grow a Mauritius Lychee Tree in a container and bring it indoors in cold months.
Do Mauritius Lychee Trees require Prunning?
Mauritius Lychee Trees do not require prunning to procduce fruit. You can prune them to keep them smaller, and to make harvesting easier.
When are Mauritius Lychee Fruits ready to pick?
Ripe Mauritius Lychees turn bright red. Once most fruits on a cluster are red, the other fruits on that bunch are ripe enough to eat as well.
What others are saying
There are no contributions yet.